2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
133 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
65,786 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 92 of 133 complaints (69.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 16 | 12.0% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 4.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 92 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 20 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
Air Bags: 92; Fuel/Propulsion System: 20; Steering: 6; Electrical System: 5; Service Brakes: 5; Engine: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Exterior Lighting: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 102 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 40 |
| 2018 | 25 |
| 2019 | 28 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2013: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 7; 2017: 40; 2018: 25; 2019: 28; 2020: 7; 2021: 1; 2022: 6; 2023: 7; 2024: 3; 2025: 3; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 16 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11173468 · 2019-02-01 (February 1, 2019)
SMELLS LIKE GAS, SEEMS TO BE A SMALL FUEL LEAK
Owner-reported narrative. 154,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11173468 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11183768 · 2019-03-03 (March 3, 2019)
GASOLINE SMELL WHEN FUEL TANK IS FULL. I REMOVED MY REAR SEATS AND REMOVED ACCESS PANELS TO FUEL FILTER/PUMPS...AND DISCOVERED THE PASSENGER SIDE ACCESS PANEL HAD GASOLINE ON THE UNIT AND SURROUNDING AREA. SOMEHOW, THERE IS A GASOLINE LEAK COMING FROM THAT PASSENGER SIDE UNIT. I DID NOT TAKE ANY PHOTOS SINCE I DID NOT WANT ANY ACTIVE ELECTRONICS NEAR THE GASOLINE AND GASOLINE FUMES.
Owner-reported narrative. 3 miles reported. Look up ODI 11183768 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10510257 · 2013-05-01 (May 1, 2013)
MY CAR SHUT DOWN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ON APRIL 19TH, 2013. AT THE TIME OF SHUTDOWN, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP (INCLUDING THE BRAKE LIGHT). I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY HAVING BEEN TOLD BY AN ADVISOR THAT THEY COULD NOT WORK ON A MAJOR ISSUE AS SUCH ON THE WEEKEND. SINCE THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR REPLICATE THE INCIDENT, THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY IT HAPPENED; THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT FIX ANYTHING. THEY ALSO STRONGLY BELIEVED THAT THE CAR IS IN PERFECT CONDITION, A…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510257 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10550317 · 2013-10-31 (October 31, 2013)
PARKED ON A 45 DEGREE SLOPE. PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL WITH THE RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DOWN AS FAR AS THE PEDAL WOULD TRAVEL. RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FULLY ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL DOWN THE INCLINE. LOCAL MECHANIC CONFIRMED THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO APPEAR FINE AS FAR AS THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR (PADS AT 40%). TAKING THIS TO THE LOCAL MB DEALER TO REVIEW. I HAVE VIDEO IF NEEDED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550317 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11042840 · 2017-11-03 (November 3, 2017)
TAKATA RECALL HAS STILL NOT CAME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO FIX THE AIRBAGS WHICH I FEEL IS A HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATO AND I DON'T FEEL MY FAMILY AND I ARE SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. AFTER TRAVELING TO A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT, WHEN PUT THE KEY IN THE POSUTION TO CRANK VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NO LONGER LET FOWN. STEERING WHEEL IS NOW STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. CAN'T LOWER THE STEERING COLUMN. WHICH MAKES IT NOW DIFFICULT THE STIR. ELECTRIC CONTROL LEVER WILL NOT WORK. BRAKE LIGHTS, SIGNAL LIGHTS LAMPS CONTINUALLY B…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11042840 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11044675 · 2017-11-08 (November 8, 2017)
"TAKATA RECALL" I'VE BEEN WAITING OVER 2 YEARS TO HAVE MY RECALLED AIRBAGS REPLACED BY THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IN GEORGETOWN, TX. I'VE EMAILED AND CALLED CONSISTENTLY EVERY 2-3 MONTHS AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS IN YET. NOW I HEAR TAKATA IS DECLARING BANKRUPTCY. WILL MY AIRBAG REPLACEMENT BE AFFECTED BY THIS? WILL THE AIRBAGS EVER BE REPLACED? SCARY TO DRIVE AROUND EVERY DAY KNOWING I HAVE A COUPLE OF SHRAPNEL GRENADES IN MY STEERING WHEEL AND DASH, JUST WAITING TO EXPLODE AND SEVERELY INJURED OR K…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11044675 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10715657 · 2015-05-11 (May 11, 2015)
TRANSMISSION JERKING PROBLEM I'VE HAD MY 2011 GLK350 AND JUST NOTICED THAT THE CAR JERKS NOTICEABLY ROUGHLY AND MADE A LOUDSY NOISE WHEN IN DRIVE MODE. IT HAPPENS BOTH AT LOW AND HIGH RPMS.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10715657 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10873785 · 2016-06-13 (June 13, 2016)
WE HAVE A MERCEDES BENZ GLK350 2011. WHILE NEITHER OF ITS BRAKE WARNING (WHICH INCLUDES WARNING FOR LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL) AND "CHECK BRAKE PAD WEAR" DISPLAY MESSAGES IS ON, AND THERE IS NO ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE BRAKES, ITS BRAKES CAN STILL FAIL FOR A SHORT TIME, WHILE WORK MOST OF THE TIME. IN TWO CASES, WHILE I WAS WAITING AT A RED LIGHT, THE BRAKE FAILED AND THE CAR MOVED FORWARD, THEN STOPPED BEFORE IT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT MAYBE I DIDN'T PRESSURE THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD ENOUGH. AFTER AN ACCIDENT HAPPENED, I AM …
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10873785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11453362 · 2022-02-22 (February 22, 2022)
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK350. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, she heard an abnormal noise. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road and saw the front driver’s side headrest air bag had deployed independently. The contact stated that there was no injury sustained. The contact stated the instrument panel displayed an error message of the driver’s and passenger’s side Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) had malfunctioned. The contact towed the vehicle to the …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11453362 at NHTSA ↗